Ne jette pas la pierre à autrui, si toi-même tu as des péchés
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone
Significado
Do not criticize others if you are not faultless yourself.
Contexto cultural
Despite the separation of church and state, biblical idioms like this one are used by atheists and believers alike as part of a shared cultural 'moral grammar'. In Quebec, religious vocabulary (sacres) is often used for swearing, but proverbs like this retain their original moral weight and are used similarly to France. In countries like Senegal or Ivory Coast, proverbs are highly valued in social mediation. This phrase might be combined with local wisdom about community harmony. The theme of the 'judge judged' is a staple of French classical theater, notably in Molière's 'Le Tartuffe', where religious hypocrisy is the central theme.
Use it sparingly
Because it's a proverb, using it too often can make you sound preachy. Save it for moments of real hypocrisy.
The 'Short' Version
In conversation, just saying 'Il ne faut pas jeter la pierre' is often enough; everyone knows the rest.
Significado
Do not criticize others if you are not faultless yourself.
Use it sparingly
Because it's a proverb, using it too often can make you sound preachy. Save it for moments of real hypocrisy.
The 'Short' Version
In conversation, just saying 'Il ne faut pas jeter la pierre' is often enough; everyone knows the rest.
Watch the 'tu'
Even though the proverb uses 'tu', if you are speaking to a superior, use the neutral 'Il ne faut pas jeter la pierre' to avoid being too direct.
Ponte a prueba
Complete the proverb with the correct words.
Ne jette pas la ______ à autrui, si toi-même tu as des ______.
The canonical form uses 'pierre' (stone) and 'péchés' (sins).
Which situation best fits the use of this proverb?
A manager who is always late criticizes an employee for being 5 minutes late.
The proverb is used to highlight hypocrisy in judgment.
Match the register to the correct sentence.
Registers: 1. Formal, 2. Informal, 3. Slang
'Autrui' is formal, 'T'es pas mieux' is informal, and 'T'as rien à dire' is slangy/blunt.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
A: 'Je n'arrive pas à croire qu'il ait menti sur son CV !' B: '__________, on a tous un peu embelli la réalité un jour.'
'Ne lui jette pas la pierre' fits the context of not judging someone for a common fault.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosNe jette pas la ______ à autrui, si toi-même tu as des ______.
The canonical form uses 'pierre' (stone) and 'péchés' (sins).
A manager who is always late criticizes an employee for being 5 minutes late.
The proverb is used to highlight hypocrisy in judgment.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
'Autrui' is formal, 'T'es pas mieux' is informal, and 'T'as rien à dire' is slangy/blunt.
A: 'Je n'arrive pas à croire qu'il ait menti sur son CV !' B: '__________, on a tous un peu embelli la réalité un jour.'
'Ne lui jette pas la pierre' fits the context of not judging someone for a common fault.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
5 preguntasYes, but mainly in formal writing, legal texts, and proverbs. You won't hear it in a casual conversation about what to eat for dinner.
Yes, if you are addressing a group or using the formal 'vous', you can change the conjugation. The meaning remains the same.
'Péché' has a religious connotation (sin), while 'faute' is more general (mistake/error).
It can be seen as a bit aggressive because you are calling someone a hypocrite. Use it with caution.
The definite article 'la' refers to the specific, symbolic stone of judgment from the biblical story.
Frases relacionadas
C'est l'hôpital qui se moque de la charité
synonymThe hospital mocking the charity.
Balayer devant sa porte
similarTo sweep in front of one's own door.
La paille et la poutre
similarThe mote and the beam.
Rendre la monnaie de sa pièce
contrastTo give someone change for their coin (revenge).
